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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
Really enjoyed this historical fiction following Charlie, Molly, and Ignatius as they navigate war-torn London. These characters are endearing and their unlikely friendship heartwarming.
Audio was fantastic with a full cast.
Thank you to the publisher for the early copy!
Audio was fantastic with a full cast.
Thank you to the publisher for the early copy!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
When I read the synopsis for Strangers in Time it sounded so interesting that I took a chance and requested it, not having read the author before. Therefore, I went into this without any expectations and wasn’t at all disappointed.
I found the writing beautiful and immersive, the characters practically leapt off the page in their realism, and the friendships they formed all pulled me in right away, kept me fully invested, and kept me turning the pages. I didn’t want to put this down.
Recommended!
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I listened to the ALC of Strangers in Time by David Baldacci and I loved it. This story is narrated by David Baldacci (the author's note); Stewart Crank; Alexandra Boulton; John Lee; Nicola F. Delgado; Matthew Lloyd Davies; Joe Pitts. This entire production was perfect. I could not imagine a better audio book. I'm not sure how much higher praise I can give other than to say, you absolutely must listen to this story. It's the story of Molly, Charlie and Ignatius Oliver; three people standing together against all the world can throw at them. And, the world does throw some horrific events their way. I love historical fiction, and David Baldacci found a way to tell a story set in London during WWII that is different than all the other London based WWII historical fiction stories. I gobbled this up. If you love coming of age stories and found family, you need to read this book. It drew me in immediately, and did not release me until the story was told. So well done. 4.25 stars.
Thank you to Hachette Audio and Net Galley for my ALC. This book releases today, April 15, 2025.
Thank you to Hachette Audio and Net Galley for my ALC. This book releases today, April 15, 2025.
I listened to an advance copy of the audio book. I really enjoyed the found family aspect the author was able to weave throughout this glimpse into a very painful time in history. I think this type of story helps to humanize the experiences and provide a perspective we don’t normally get from standard historical reference materials.
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Sometimes its a matter of whom one meets, and when.
Charlie Matters is 14 and lives with his Gran in London's East End, not a particularly safe to be during the Blitz in 1944. He lost his father to the war and his mother to a bomb, and while his grandmother does her best to provide for them both (and they at least have a roof over their heads, something not true for all in their part of the city) times are tough. Unbeknownst to his Gran Charlie has stopped going to school and instead spends his time out on the streets trying to earn a little money or, when needed, to lift an item or two from someone who can (as best he can guess) affort the loss. Through just such a foray one night Charlie happens into a bookshop in an alley in Covent Garden, The Book Keep, where he grabs some money from the till and a book off the counter. Guilt has him returning the items soon thereafter....the man who runs the shop, Ignatius Oliver, seems like too good a man of whom to take advantage as well as someone who can't really spare the money after all. On a different night Charlie crosses paths with Molly Wakefield, a girl from a wealthy family who has just returned to her home in Chelsea from the countryside where she had been sent for safety years earlier only to find her father and mother now missing. The three people from different walks of life are each struggling with the losses and changes wrought by war, and will help one another through subsequent challenges as it continues to exact its toll on the people of London. As bombs fall and each tries to come to terms with the tragedies in their lives and the questions that still linger over them, the three come together as a sort of family. But the mystery of what has happened to Molly's parents and the secret acts of Ignatius may rupture the bonds they are forming.
Author David Baldacci is known for his suspenseful thrillers, so let me start by saying that this book is not in that mold. It is historical fiction that explores the reality of life in war-torn London during 1944 and chronicles the daily tragedies that occurred, the resiliency shown by Londoners in the face of the harshest of circumstances, and the power of human beings who form connections in even the darkest of times. The richness of detail...the rationed food, the rubble in the streets, the living under the threat of bombing that could and did happen anywhere at any time...is the strongest aspect to the book. The characters, particularly the three main protagonists of Charlie, Molly and Ignatius, are well-developed and worm their ways into the reader's heart. The story, like the circumstances it meticulously portrays, is certainly a bit on the darker side but is not without hope. The mystery of what happened to Molly's parents takes its time in being resolved, and I found it not entirely believable, but the strength of the novel's portrayal of the place and people make it a worthwhile read. Readers of Markus Zusak, Anthony Doerr and Kristin Hannah will find this a welcome addition to their TBR pile, as will fans of Baldacci's earlier non-thriller works. My thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for allowing me access to this story which celebrates the resilience of the human spirit in exchange for my honest review.
Charlie Matters is 14 and lives with his Gran in London's East End, not a particularly safe to be during the Blitz in 1944. He lost his father to the war and his mother to a bomb, and while his grandmother does her best to provide for them both (and they at least have a roof over their heads, something not true for all in their part of the city) times are tough. Unbeknownst to his Gran Charlie has stopped going to school and instead spends his time out on the streets trying to earn a little money or, when needed, to lift an item or two from someone who can (as best he can guess) affort the loss. Through just such a foray one night Charlie happens into a bookshop in an alley in Covent Garden, The Book Keep, where he grabs some money from the till and a book off the counter. Guilt has him returning the items soon thereafter....the man who runs the shop, Ignatius Oliver, seems like too good a man of whom to take advantage as well as someone who can't really spare the money after all. On a different night Charlie crosses paths with Molly Wakefield, a girl from a wealthy family who has just returned to her home in Chelsea from the countryside where she had been sent for safety years earlier only to find her father and mother now missing. The three people from different walks of life are each struggling with the losses and changes wrought by war, and will help one another through subsequent challenges as it continues to exact its toll on the people of London. As bombs fall and each tries to come to terms with the tragedies in their lives and the questions that still linger over them, the three come together as a sort of family. But the mystery of what has happened to Molly's parents and the secret acts of Ignatius may rupture the bonds they are forming.
Author David Baldacci is known for his suspenseful thrillers, so let me start by saying that this book is not in that mold. It is historical fiction that explores the reality of life in war-torn London during 1944 and chronicles the daily tragedies that occurred, the resiliency shown by Londoners in the face of the harshest of circumstances, and the power of human beings who form connections in even the darkest of times. The richness of detail...the rationed food, the rubble in the streets, the living under the threat of bombing that could and did happen anywhere at any time...is the strongest aspect to the book. The characters, particularly the three main protagonists of Charlie, Molly and Ignatius, are well-developed and worm their ways into the reader's heart. The story, like the circumstances it meticulously portrays, is certainly a bit on the darker side but is not without hope. The mystery of what happened to Molly's parents takes its time in being resolved, and I found it not entirely believable, but the strength of the novel's portrayal of the place and people make it a worthwhile read. Readers of Markus Zusak, Anthony Doerr and Kristin Hannah will find this a welcome addition to their TBR pile, as will fans of Baldacci's earlier non-thriller works. My thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for allowing me access to this story which celebrates the resilience of the human spirit in exchange for my honest review.
adventurous
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Interesting story about WW2 1944 London. The two main characters, Charlie and Molly, are teenagers that end up alone with no family. Molly comes from money and privilege and Charlie has struggled with money his whole life. Molly's parents have mysteriously disappeared after she returned from the country and she has to figure out how to survive. A local bookshop owner befriends them and takes them under his wing. The owner, Ignatius Oliver, has his own history with the war and is dealing with the mysterious events surrounding his wife's death. This is a story of family, the one you choose vs. the family you were born into. I enjoyed the second half of the book more as it had more action, but this was a very good WW2 mystery.
#StrangersinTime #NetGalley
Thank you Net Galley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
#StrangersinTime #NetGalley
Thank you Net Galley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
challenging
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I had the joy of listening to the full cast audio edition of Strangers in Time, and it was such a treat. I love full cast productions—it's like having a movie play in your ears. When done well, they bring each character vividly to life, and this one absolutely delivered.
Stories set during wartime are never easy to read or listen to, but this book struck a beautiful balance. It was both heartwarming and heartbreaking in all the right ways. I found myself really connecting with the characters and feeling every high and low alongside them.
Molly made me roll my eyes a few times, I won’t lie—but then I had to remind myself of her background. She came from privilege and was a bit naive, yes, but not unintelligent. In fact, she was incredibly sharp in other ways and was always a loyal supporter of Charlie, constantly looking out for him.
Charlie, on the other hand, kept insisting he wasn’t honorable, but time and again he proved otherwise—sometimes without even realizing it. And then there’s Ignatius, who tied them all together perfectly, adding depth and warmth to the story.
Overall, Strangers in Time was a moving and memorable listen.
Thanks NetGalley and Hachette audio for the ARC
Stories set during wartime are never easy to read or listen to, but this book struck a beautiful balance. It was both heartwarming and heartbreaking in all the right ways. I found myself really connecting with the characters and feeling every high and low alongside them.
Molly made me roll my eyes a few times, I won’t lie—but then I had to remind myself of her background. She came from privilege and was a bit naive, yes, but not unintelligent. In fact, she was incredibly sharp in other ways and was always a loyal supporter of Charlie, constantly looking out for him.
Charlie, on the other hand, kept insisting he wasn’t honorable, but time and again he proved otherwise—sometimes without even realizing it. And then there’s Ignatius, who tied them all together perfectly, adding depth and warmth to the story.
Overall, Strangers in Time was a moving and memorable listen.
Thanks NetGalley and Hachette audio for the ARC
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Strangers in Time by David Baldacci is a World War II novel, but different than most. It is about three people: an orphaned street urchin, a well-to-to young woman who has been abandoned, and a middle-aged book shop owner. Charlie Matters is fifteen and up to no good. He no longer goes to school, a fact he has hidden from his grandmother, his only guardian. Instead he spends his days picking up odd jobs and pursuing minor thefts and other misdeeds. He turns all the money over to his grandmother. He had robbed Ignatius Oliver’s store, The Book Keep , but his conscious got the better of him and he returned the money and developed a relationship with the man. Later he met Molly on the street and they became friends. As time wore on Ignatius became the only adult in their lives and had a huge impact on them.
These were all good people trapped in a terrible situation. London was being bombed almost nightly. There was no hope for the poor people and little hope for anyone else. As time wore on and Molly’s house was bombed, where she and Charlie had been living, they had fewer and fewer options. Molly was female and underaged; Charlie was a minor criminal; and Ignatius had no experience with young people, plus difficult matters of his own. It was really more a slice-of-life than one with a plot, with small plots popping up, one after another. The character development was natural as were the relationships, no matter how unlikely they seemed. The story was heart-wrenching as only a wartime story can be. The narrative brought home what life must have been like at the time, when men were fighting so very close by. It was masterful. As much as Baldacci is a genius at thrillers, he is even better with historical fiction.
The narration was carried out by a number of people, including the author and was perfect. I liked the audio better than the written version as it was easier to follow. Kudos to the cast: David Baldacci; Stewart Crank; Alexandra Boulton; John Lee; Nicola F. Delgado; Matthew Lloyd Davies; Joe Pitts
I was invited to listen to Strangers in Time by Hatchette Audio and read it by Grand Central Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #HatchetteAudio #GrandCentralPublishing #DavidBaldacci #Stewart Crank #Alexandra Boulton #John Lee #NicolaFDelgado #Matthew Lloyd Davies #Joe Pitts #StrangersInTime